$200,000 With Anticipation Stakes Draws Field of Nine

Of the eight entered for the grass, Designed for War has been installed as the 5-2 morning line favorite for trainer Todd Pletcher. A $125,000 purchase earlier in the year, the bay ridgling son of War Front broke his maiden in his debut at Saratoga as the favorite under Javier Castellano. The pair will again team up for his stakes debut and they are slated to break from post position six.

Strong Coffee one of two for trainer Graham Motion

Second choice at odds of 7-2 is Strong Coffee who will break from the outside post for trainer Graham Motion. The dark bay son of Warrior’s Reward was purchased for $120,000 in March by owner Albert Frassetto and won his career debut at the Spa by three lengths under Irad Ortiz, Jr. who will remain in the irons. The runner-up in his maiden win, Face the Music, has subsequently come back to win at next asking.

Hot Tin Roof making turf debut after synthetic win

Graham Motion will also saddle Hot Tin Roof at odds of 6-1 on the morning line. A homebred son of More Than Ready for Stonestreet Stables, the bay colt will be trying the turf for the first time after breaking his maiden over synthetics at Presque Isle in his debut. In addition to the surface switch, he will have Rajiv Maragh in the irons for the first time after Pablo Morales was the pilot for his first race.